Well closing apparatus



Aug. 30, 1932. R. M. BURRIS WELL CLOSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 25, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 a 44 4 v; p i 4., 3 m4 rPK' 51/ 4/ 45 G E I ya I I I if is k 9 39 g l E I Unumnnm Imm- Inventor i'fiarzBzarrz Ls Aug; 30, 1932. BURRls 1,874,889

WELL CLOSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 25, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 W 1 W W Inventor R'aaraZ/Iffizwvz's I V I By E tube 13. 'In fact, the bore of the lower sec Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES RICHARD M. IBURRIS, OF HOLDENVILLE, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO HILL, J'B., OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS PATENT OFFICE WELL CLOSING APPARATUS Application filed November 25, 1931. Serial No. 577,338.

This invention relates to a machine or aption 10 is flared as at l i-to facilitate appliparatus for use in oil and gas well fields, and it has more specific reference to novel equipment which serves broadly as a closure for an oil well casing, as well as a means for extinguishing fire.

Otherwise stated, I have discovered a new and novel machine of such construction and arrangement as to permit it to function either cation of the head.

Slidably mounted in suitably shaped recesses between the sections 9 and 10 are slidable clampingjaws 18 having teeth 16 adapted to grip the pipe 13. Each jaw is formed with a packing 17 and a screw-threaded lug 18 through which the adjacent feed screw 19 operates. I The feed screw is provided with a as a permanent or temporary casing head for pinion 20 co-operable with the teeth of a ring 6 the Well, and an emergency fire extinguisher.

Briefly stated, the invention comprises a clamp equipped valved closing head constructed for quick application to the discharge end of the tubing, a novel carriage for said closure, and remote control means for clamping the closure in position and actuating the valve means to a position to cut-off the flow or stream of oil and gas.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the complete machine installedready for use.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the essential parts of the machine with the wheel supported carriage removed.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the upper portion of the closure.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the I intermediate portion thereof.

embodies upper and lower companion sections 9 and 10. secured together by bolts 11. The bolts also serve-to fasten in place a capping ring 12 and to maintain the other parts of the'mechanism in appropriate assembled relationship.

Both of these sections 9 andlO are bored to accommodate the upper end of the oil well gear 21, which arrangement serves to simultaneously actuate the jaws toward and from the pipe 13 for either clamping or releasing the head 8.

Oneof the feed screws is provided with a power transmission gear 21 having operating connection with an adjacent pulley 22. The pulley is formed with a uard 23 and provided with an operating ca 1e 24 which extends to a point of remote control to facilitate ap-,-

plication and clamping of the head without endangering the lives of the operatives, and p attendants.

I now call attention to Figure 3, wherein the numeral 25 designates grooved segments suitably fastened to the upper section 9 and arranged to accommodate the slidable gate valves 26. These valves, like the clamps 15 are provided with lugs 27 having operating connection with rotatably mounted feed screws 28. Thefeed screws are provided with 'pinions 29 co-operable with a second ring gear 30. The ring gear 30 is positioned between the section 9 and the closing or capping ring 12. p

The upper section 9 as seen in Figure 2, is provided with outstanding supporting and conveying arms 31, as well as an oil discharge pipe 32 having a suitable cut-oil valve 33.

In addition, the right hand feed screw in @Figure 5 is provided with a pulley 34 grooved and formed with a guard 35, said pulley being provided with a remote control cable 36. Thus the valves as well as the clamping jaws are operable from a distant point to promote safety.

The entire head 8 and its various mechanism and apurtenances is mounted, as a unit,

on a wheeled carriage. The carriage is of any suitable constructionand includesv a 1 arm 31 for raising and lowering the entire.

head as a unit. The feed screw isswivelly mounted on the frame.

In addition, I provide suitably supportin g brackets 44 carrying an annular perforated water spray pipe 45.

This is adapted for cooling purposes and intended to spray streams of water against the entire head and carriage structure to prevent undue heating and subsequent damage.

I The gist of the invention is found in a portable structure including a wheel supported carriage, jack means and cooling means, together with a vertically liftable head, said head being constructed to fit over the upper protruding ends of the well tubing 13 as seen in Figure 5.

The principle novelty is found in the con-' struction of the head, which is of a laminated or sectional construction with the sectlons so arrangedv as to accommodate the clamping slides as well as the slidable valve doors or plates 26. As before stated, the head may be employed as an emergency closure in case of fire. Under these conditions, the wheeled carriage or truck is drawn up by remote draft means to a point within the vicinity of the oil well pipe 13. At this time the head 8 is elevated through the medium of the jack screws 43.

When the head is disposed substantially over or in alinement with the tube 13, the jack screws, which are provided with remote control cables are adjusted to lower the head down over the tubes. Then the cable 24 is operated to clamp the head firmly on the tubes. Next the valve doors are closed by operation of the remote control cable 36.

- by way of the valved delivery pipe 32.

The numeral 46 designates a substantially u shaped member or bail having an intermediate bend 47 This feature 46 constitutes a drag member which serves to center the machine over the pipe. At its opposite ends this part 46 is hingedly mounted as indicated at 48. Obviously the bend 47 is adapted to conform to and ride against the adjacent face of the pipe 13 so that as the machine is brought into position this device 46 functions as a stop member for said machine.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent. It 1' is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a structure of mote control devices whereby to permit ad-- justment and clamping and closing of the head from a distant point with safety to the attendants.

2. A closure head for a well casing comprising a sectional body having a bore flared at its lower end to fit down over the protruding upper end of the casing, a plurality of radially adjustable clamping jaws slidably mounted in said head, radial feed screws operatively connected with said jaws, a ring gear for simultaneously operating the feed screws, a remote control pulley and cable arrangement, an operating connection between the pulley and feed screws.

3. A closure head for a well casing comprising a sectional body having a bore flared at its lower end to fit down over the protruding upper end of the casing, a plurality of radially adjustable clamping jaws slidably mounted in said head, radial feed screws operatively connected with said jaws, a ring gear for simultaneously operating the feed screws, a remote control pulley and cable arrangement, an operating connection between the pulley and feed screws, together with a slidable gate valve in the upper portion of the body of said head, feed screws rotatably mounted in said head and'adjustably'connected with said valves, one of said feed screws being provided with a remote control pulley adapted to accommodate a cable.

4. A closure head for a wall casing com prising a sectional body having a bore flared at its lower end to fit down over the protruding upper end of the casing, a plurality of radially adjustable clamping jaws slidably mounted in said head, radial feed screws operatively connected with said jaws, a ring gear for simultaneously operating the feed screws, a remote control pulley and cable arrangement, an operating connection bethe class described, in, comb1nat1on, a well casing closure and fire tween the pulley and feed screws, to ther with aslidable 'gate valve in the up er portion of the body of said head, fee screws rotatably mounted in said head and ad- 5 justably connected with said valves, one of said feed screws bein provided with a remote control pulle a apted to accommodate a cable, said head ing further formed with a valved delivery ipe so as to allow the 10 head to be employe for cap ing purposes.

In testimony whereof I a x m signature.

' RICHARD M. URRIS, 

